Shutte fleet grounded


Recommended Posts

The shuttle program is being grounded until engineers determine the severity of the impact of debris that fell from the shuttle Discovery during blastoff Tuesday, NASA says. More soon.

www.cnn.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Read the article again. The part about grounding the shuttle fleet was the one that happened in 2003 not now. I quote:

"But falling debris from the shuttle Columbia during its ascent was blamed for damage to the craft that led to its destruction and the deaths of all seven crew members upon its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in February 2003."

"The subsequent grounding of the shuttle fleet and the investigation into the disaster prompted NASA to make safety-related activities a priority for this first post-Columbia mission."

This refers to the Columbia incident not now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Read the article again.? The part about grounding the shuttle fleet was the one that happened in 2003 not now.? I quote:

"But falling debris from the shuttle Columbia during its ascent was blamed for damage to the craft that led to its destruction and the deaths of all seven crew members upon its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in February 2003."

"The subsequent grounding of the shuttle fleet and the investigation into the disaster prompted NASA to make safety-related activities a priority for this first post-Columbia mission."

This refers to the Columbia incident not now.

586282685[/snapback]

actually he is correct it, the fleet has been grounded.

edit: "NASA grounds shuttle program to fix foam problem. Details to come" - MSNBC homepage.

edit2: msnbc

Edited by christracy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish NASA had the funds and efficiency to upgrade the fleet. :(

586282721[/snapback]

Upgrading is fruitless, they need to redesign that 40 year old piece of junk.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

NASA Grounds Entire Space Shuttle Fleet

POSTED: 6:47 am PDT July 27, 2005

SPACE CENTER, Houston -- NASA says it is grounding future space shuttle flights because foam debris that brought down Columbia is still a risk.

NASA says the mysterious object that came flying off the space shuttle Discovery's fuel tank during liftoff was a large piece of foam insulation.

That was the very thing that caused Columbia to break apart during re-entry two-and-a-half years ago, killing all seven astronauts aboard. But this time, the foam didn't hit the spacecraft.

NASA expected some debris to fall off during Tuesday's launch, but officials said they won't know for a few days whether any of it will mean a risk to the crew.

Discovery astronauts woke early Wednesday morning and started checking the outside of their spacecraft.

They were maneuvering a sensor-equipped robotic arm to see if any damage occurred during launch Tuesday. The examination focused on the shuttle's wings and nose.

It's one of the new procedures put in place since the 2003 Columbia tragedy.

NASA officials say two chunks of debris appeared to break free during launch. Officials say cameras recorded what looks like a piece of thermal tile breaking off the shuttle's belly. And a chunk of what may be foam insulation peeled off the external fuel tank.

Officials don't know if the debris did any damage.

At an 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday news conference, flight director Paul Hill said that much of the data from the various cameras and scans has been sent back to Earth and is being distilled into engineering reports. If any areas need additional reviews, those will likely happen on the fourth day of the flight.

Hill said the process worked well, but that it was a lot of work, requiring full-time attention from three of the seven crew members. NASA hopes not to have to do as much scanning on future flights, if it can rely on other sensors.

He noted that while some small damage was reported Tuesday, the shuttle has landed many times with some thermal protection system damage, so NASA knows what can be tolerated.

In orbit, astronauts have also tested the tools and equipment they'll use during some space walks. And they're planning to get the airlock ready for Thursday's docking with the international space station.

Engineers on the ground are analyzing images and data from the launch to see if there were other incidents, NASA said on its Web site.

The crew of the orbiting laboratory will also photograph all sides of Discovery before the two link up.

KIRO 7 News Seattle

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's what I mean.

586282782[/snapback]

I think it costs somewhere around a billion to redesign and build a new one, and it also costs about a billion to make another one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

what are they down to now? atlantis endeavor and discovery? with less machines to take up the work load it means more use for the remaining which could lead to another accident. i agree screw the upgrade they need to be working on the next generation of spacecrafts because the end of usefulness of these shuttles is coming to an end. no need in putting the money into building another shuttle its way past time to look into VIABLE alternatives.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Upgrading is fruitless, they need to redesign that 40 year old piece of junk.

586282742[/snapback]

40 years old? Why do you think it's that old? The fleet was designed in the 70's.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well now,, this is interesting....so what happens if there turns out to be more damage on Discovery than we first thought......guess the Russians are going to be sending up a few more Soyuz to replenish the ISS.....

I said it before, and I'll say it again....

God bless the Shuttle crew on re-entry.

Bob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 years old? Why do you think it's that old?  The fleet was designed in the 70's.....

586282811[/snapback]

Ok ok 30 years old. Would you want to drive a 30 year old car that turns in to a fireball every time you come to a landing? :blink: They should of built/designed new shuttles a long time ago. Re-entry stress is ..crazy :pinch:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it costs somewhere around a billion to redesign and build a new one, and it also costs about a billion to make another one.

586282799[/snapback]

Bleh they should take the funding for Iraq over a two week period and let NASA go nuts with it. We will be on mars in 2 years ;) (tee hee)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bleh they should take the funding for Iraq over a two week period and let NASA go nuts with it. We will be on mars in 2 years ;) (tee hee)

586283314[/snapback]

agree, U least 100 million per week going to hell

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bleh they should take the funding for Iraq over a two week period and let NASA go nuts with it. We will be on mars in 2 years ;) (tee hee)

586283314[/snapback]

Thats is so true. Id like to see them build one of the next gen shuttle concepts drawn up by boing and other aircraft manufacturers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it costs somewhere around a billion to redesign and build a new one, and it also costs about a billion to make another one.

586282799[/snapback]

That's just because things aren't planned out and built properly and efficiently.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.